Professional development and continuing education are paramount to societal, corporate and personal success in the 21st century economy, according to a recent study.

The EvoLLLution, an online newspaper for the higher education industry, announced the results of a study conducted to shed light on the growing need for continuing education within today's workforce. The research paper, “Lifelong Education and Labor Market Needs,” suggests that continuing education increases both employee income and corporate productivity.

A third-party research firm surveyed employers across North America to get their viewpoints on continuing education and professional development. The results showed that 96 percent of employers said continuing education improves job performance and 87 percent said it has a positive impact on pay scale, with many citing a direct correlation, especially in the health care field.

The research also showed that education allows employees to manage the skills gap between entry-level and mid-level positions, thus facilitating advancement with 78 percent of employers factoring continuing education into promotions.